Impact Of Extreme Weather, Bali-Lombok Fast Ship Crossing Temporarily Closed

The crossing of fast ships from Bali to the area of three Gili (Trawangan, Air, and Meno) on the island of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara was closed due to extreme weather that hit the waters in the area.

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Transportation Agency Lalu Moh Faozal said the closure of crossings was not only on fast ships serving Bali-Lombok but also from Bangsal Port in North Lombok Regency to three gili (Trawangan, Air, and Meno) areas.

"We have stopped our fast boat since yesterday," he said in Mataram, Antara, Tuesday, February 11.

He admitted that he did not know how long the closure of the Tiga Gili fast boat crossing, including Gili's third Bangsal Port, would be operational again. Because it all depends on weather conditions.

"Until when (the crossing) we don't know, but hopefully it will start to slope, tomorrow it can run," explained Faozal.

According to Faozal, his party is still coordinating with the BMKG to monitor cross-Bali shipping to the area of three Gili. Vice versa, because after all the safety factors of the passengers are the main thing.

"We, together with the BMKG, continue to monitor how it develops," he said.

Faozal added that extreme weather also had an impact on the Kayangan Harbor crossing in East Lombok to the Portotano Port in West Sumbawa on a round-trip (PP) basis.

"Yesterday, we opened the lid for the Kites crossing for one day, because the wind speed was above average. But now it's back to normal," explained Faozal.

However, long routes have no impact, such as the Port of Lembar/Gili Mas-Pelabuhan Perak, Surabaya. Sheet/Gili Mas-Pelabuhan Janger, Situbondo and Lembar-Pelabuhan Ketapang Banyuwangi.

"If the long track does not have an impact, it is still safe to pass," he said.

It is known that the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a signal warning of the potential for extreme weather for a week in the NTB region due to the indirect impact of the emergence of Tropical Cyclone Invest 96S Seeds.

"The seeds of Tropical Cyclone Invest 96S have an indirect impact in the form of increasing rainfall, increasing wind speed, and high waves in West Nusa Tenggara," said Head of BMKG Zainuddin Meteorological Station Abdul Madjid (ZAM) Satria Topan Primadi in a statement quoted in Mataram, Sunday (9/2).

The location of the Tropical Cyclone Invest 96S Seed is located in the south of the province of East Nusa Tenggara, precisely in the western waters of Australia. The cyclone bibit, called Tropical Low 18U, is moving at a speed of 13 kilometers per hour to the southwest.